18/06/2005
NEWS STORY
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In all honesty we could well be in for one of the oddest qualifying sessions of all time.
Following the problems that Ralf Schumacher and Ricardo Zonta encountered on Friday, Michelin wishes to bring in a batch of new tyres from France.
This would mean that the Michelin runners would not use the same tyres in today's qualifying session that they use in tomorrow's race - they would therefore be illegal, indeed according to the FIA's Charlie Whiting, this means the teams "would be breaking four rules".
Therefore this means that there would be little point in taking part in today's qualifying session. Should that happen, one shudders to think what damage this would do to F1 in North America.
Although the FIA may allow the Michelin teams to use 'new' tyres, it remains to be seen how Ferrari and the other Bridgestone teams will react. For the most part Bridgestone has had its nose rubbed in the mud by Michelin this year because Michelin have been pushing the envelope too far, so will there be any sympathy? Probably not.
One observer could see this coming; in first practice cars were running so low they were kicking out brown smoke as they came through the final corner and the floor grounded. He said that the tyre sidewalls were clearly too soft and were just compounding under pressure.
Anyway… ahead of the 'golden hour', the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature has risen to 40 degrees.
First out will be Ricardo Zonta, who will be followed by Montoya, Karthikeyan, Fisichella and Alonso.
At 13:00 precisely, Zonta heads off down the pitlane, the session is underway.
At the first split the Brazilian posts 22.167, followed by a 52.090 at the second. For obvious reasons it's a cautious lap, however, he still manages to post a 1:11.754. Very impressive.
At the first split, Juan Pablo Montoya posts 22.218, he's down on the Brazilian but it's marginal. At the second split it's 51.825, he's now 0.264s up on the Toyota driver. At the line it's 1:11.681, to take provisional pole, but only just.
Next out is Narain Karthikeyan in the Jordan. At the first split the Indian posts 22.790, he's already 0.5s down on Montoya. At the second split it's 53.460, the Jordan slipping and sliding all over the place. At the line it's 1:13.776, he's 2.095s off the pace.
At the first split, Fisichella posts 22.083, he's 0.135s up on Montoya. Since Melbourne, the Italian has had a torrid season, however things are improving here, at the second split he's still 0.253s to the good. At the line it's 1:11.290, provisional pole for the Renault driver.
Next out is Renault teammate, and world Championship leader, Fernando Alonso. At the first split the Spaniard posts 22.183, he's exactly 0.100s down on his teammate. At the second split it's 51.702, as he continues to lose ground to the Italian. At the line it's 1:11.380, which puts him second, and gives Renault provisional 1-2.
Next out is Minardi's Patrick Friesacher, the Austrian proving to be a real 'find' this season. At the first split the Minardi driver posts 23.199, he's already 1.1s off the pace. At the second split it's 53.992, as he really wrestles with the car. At the line it's 1:14.494, which puts him sixth of six.
Takuma Sato is next out. At the first split the BAR driver posts 22.162, he's down on Fisichella, but it's close. At the second split it's 51.574, he's only 0.002s off the pace. At the line it's 1:11.497, which puts him third, he lost a lot of ground in the final sector.
Nick Heidfeld is next out. At the first split the German posts 22.549, he's already 0.46s off the pace. At the second split it's 52.325, as he continues to lose pace. At the line it's 1:12.430, which puts him sixth. Nick didn't appear to have confidence in the car, or was it the tyres?
Next out is Jenson Button, who crashed out in Canada. At the first split it's 22.052, he's already 0.031s up on Fisichella. At the second split the Englishman posts 51.411, he's now 0.16s up on the Renault driver. At the line it's 1:11.277, provisional pole for the Montreal pole man.
Jarno Trulli is on track in the second Toyota. At the first split the Italian posts 21.790, he's 0.262s up on Button. At the second split the 2004 Monaco winner posts 51.233, he's still up on the BAR driver. At the line it's 1:10.625, he takes provisional pole by 0.65s. A brilliant, aggressive lap, extremely brave when you consider the problems his teammates have encountered this weekend.
At the 'break' it's: Trulli, Button, Fisichella, Alonso, Sato, Montoya, Zonta, Heidfeld, Karthikeyan and Friesacher.
Next out is last of the Montreal finishers, Christijan Albers. At the first split the Dutch driver posts 22.938, he's 1.14s down on Trulli. At the second split he's 2s down on the Toyota, going on to cross the line at 1:13.632, which puts him ahead of Karthikeyan and Friesacher.
Tiago Monteiro is on track in the second Jordan. At the first split the Portuguese driver posts 22.962, he's 1.17s off the pace. At the second split it's 53.136s, he could beat his Indian teammate. At the line it's 1:13.462, which puts him ninth, of twelve. A very good lap.
Jacques Villeneuve is on track in the Sauber. At the first split the Canadian posts 22.139, he's 0.349s down on the Toyota. At the second split it's 51.782, he's now 0.549s down on the Italian. At the line it's 1:11.691, which puts him seventh, behind Montoya and ahead of Zonta.
Christian Klien is next out. At the first split the Austrian posts 22.437, he's 0.647s off the pace. At the second split it's 52.207, as he continues to lose ground to the Toyota. At the line it's 1:12.132, which puts him ninth.
Teammate David Coulthard is last out before the final break. At the first split the Scot posts 22.392, he's 0.602s off the pace. At the second split it's 52.673, as he goes very wide at Turn 7. At the line it's 1:12.682, which puts him eleventh, he'll be bitterly disappointed.
At the final break it's: Trulli, Button, Fisichella, Alonso, Sato, Montoya, Villeneuve, Zonta, Klien and Heidfeld.
Next out, after the break, will be Webber, followed by Massa, Barrichello, Michael and Montreal winner, Kimi Raikkonen.
At the first split the Australian posts 22.307, he's already 0.517s down on Trulli. At the second split it's 51.573, as he pulls back a little time. The williamsF1 looks a real handful, as he crosses the line to take sixth, with a 1:11.527.
Felipe Massa is on track in the second Sauber. At the first split the Brazilian posts 22.170, he's 0.380s down on the Toyota. At the second split it's 51.558, he's still 0.325s off the pace. At the line it's 1:11.555, a poor final sector which leaves him seventh.
Rubens Barrichello is on track in the Ferrari. At the first split the Brazilian posts 22.119, he's 0.329s off Trulli's pace. At the second split it's 51.682, as he continues to lose ground. At the line it's 1:11.431, which puts him fifth.
Teammate Michael Schumacher is next out, what can he do? At the first split the German posts 22.021, he's 0.231s off the pace. At the second split it's 51.498, as he maintains the pace. At the line it's 1:11.369 which puts him fourth. Not as good as expected, but is that down to fuel strategy?
At the first split Raikkonen posts 21.883, he's 0.093s off the pace of the Toyota. At the second split the Finn posts 51.137, he's now 0.096s up on Trulli. At the line it's 1:10.694, he misses out by 0.069s, thereby giving Toyota it's first ever pole position - and after yesterday's dramas, a fitting result.
The session ends with Trulli quickest, ahead of Raikkonen, Button Fisichella, Michael, Alonso, Barrichello, Sato, Webber and Massa.
Montoya is eleventh, ahead of Villeneuve, Zonta, Klien, Heidfeld, Coulthard, Monteiro, Albers, Karthikeyan and Friesacher.
However, the whole thing is academic, for in the hours to come, the FIA, the teams and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone will have to decide whether to allow Michelin to supply its teams with new tyres, thereby breaking the rules.
Not for the first time, behind the scenes politics dominate the sport, and the man in the stand, together with armchair enthusiasts around the world, have to wait on a decision that will be made, behind locked doors, in the coming hours.
It would be pointless to begin analysing this session, because we don't know how the Michelin tyre saga is going to develop. However, all credit to Jarno Trulli, not merely for taking pole, but for doing it under such difficult conditions.
Although the Ferraris could only manage fifth and seventh, there were a lot of smiles in the red garage.